Spain has been hit with scorching temperatures this week with the mercury exceeding 30C in the middle of winter.
In Calles, temperatures of 30.7C were recorded on Thursday, while in Gavarda, also in the Valencian Community region, the mercury hit 30C.
It marked the highest temperature ever-recorded in Spain in January, said the Valencian Association of Meteorology.
Other towns reached highs of 28C, while temperatures of up to 26C in Andalusia in southern Spain were recorded.
Many other parts of the country climbed to 20C - up to 10C above normal levels for the time of the year in some places.
Pictures showed Valencian residents sunbathing on the beach and taking a dip in the sea.
The Spanish state meteorology agency, AEMET, said it recorded that maximum temperatures in the Mediterranean region of Murcia of 28.2C.
Scientists have linked scorching temperatures and dry and windy conditions in many parts of the world, including southern Europe, to climate change.
Last year was the second warmest on record in Spain with consecutive heatwaves causing droughts and wildfires.
"We're a bit surprised that it's so pleasantly warm... And it's nice for us now, but we don't think it's completely normal," German tourist Thorsten Petersen, 66, told Reuters news agency in downtown Madrid.
Adela, a local pensioner, added: "Those who say there is no climate change just have to look at what's happening: it's either too cold or too warm. I think this is a disaster".
Footage showed people taking off their winter coats and some wearing shorts and T-shirts in Madrid.
In neighbouring Portugal, the air warmed up the most in the central district of Leiria, reaching 23C, and the weather agency IPMA expected 24C there on Friday. In the North, temperatures were 8-9C above normal levels, it said.
"I think it's because of the climate change," French tourist Jane Dubois said, standing by the River Tagus in Lisbon. "It's our future so we have to protect the planet."
Fabio Silvestre, visiting Lisbon with his small daughter from Italy, echoed the climate concerns: "I am a bit worried about my daughter... The weather is not normal like this."
